How to Start an Online Poetry Business

It takes a good poet to write something worth reading. It takes an even better one to sell it. To start an online poetry business you will of course need a website, but what else do you need? A variety of marketing tactics and networking strategies can help you get off the ground.

Things You'll Need

• Plenty of written poems
• Website
• Gumption

Instructions

1. Write a number of poems worth reading. Spell check them.

2. Create a website for selling your poetry. You need to think of a clever domain name, one that captures interest and also suggests an online poetry business.

3. Make sure you have your poetry samples posted on your website. Copyright your poetry samples by placing the words "Copyright 2008. Your Name. All Rights Reserved." That way everyone will be able to see how you write, and what styles you specialize in.

4. Your website should contain your poetry, a sales pitch on the home page, some testimonials, and your contact information.

5. Consider writing poems "to-order". The client gives you a topic, a suggested audience who will read your poem, and any other information necessary to complete the poem. When writing your poem, confine yourself to the rules your client lays out, but don't be afraid to offer an alternative version if you think it would work better.

6. Besides your website, you will need to use a variety of networking tactics. Post profiles of your poetry business at all the major social networking websites, such as MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Friendster.

7. Become an active member of a handful of poetry boards and other discussion groups. At the end of each post, paste your website URL and your contact information. You never know who will want to contract you out.

8. Consider using Google AdWords to promote your online poetry business. Google AdWords is an advertising network by which you can custom-design your own short ads, leading to your website. Be sure that when you write ads they are clever and search engine optimized.

9. You should decide up front how much you will charge for a poem.

10. Consider royalties. If someone wants to buy the rights to your poem, you should get a cut of any money that person makes on your poetry. Lay this all out when contracting on any publishing deal, great or small.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't confine yourself to the online world when promoting your online poetry business. Try posting fliers around your area. Talk to your friends and family members. Let everyone know you run a poetry business and are available to anyone.

• Do not plagiarize anyone else's poetry. It will come back to bite you, guaranteed.

• Making money writing poetry is a losing proposition, but don't let that discourage you. With lots of effort and passion you can sell your poetry online.